Northern Ireland

Eleven more coronavirus deaths in NI

Another 514 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland
Another 514 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland Another 514 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland

ELEVEN more coronavirus deaths were reported last night, according to the Department of Health.

It brings the death toll from the virus in Northern Ireland to 802.

Another 514 people have also tested positive for Covid-19 with the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak rising to 43,902.

Figures last night also showed that 420 patients were in hospitals across Northern Ireland with coronavirus, with 50 in intensive care and 39 requiring ventilation.

Hospitals are operating at a 99 per cent occupancy rate.

Of the latest deaths, four occurred in the Derry City and Strabane area, while another two deaths in each of the the Antrim and Newtownabbey, Belfast, and Causeway Coast and Glen areas.

There was also a death recorded in Mid Ulster.

There were also 146 care homes in the north dealing with outbreaks of the virus.

In the Republic, there were a further 270 new cases of Covid-19 reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team, bringing the total number of cases to 65,889.

Sixteen more deaths related to the virus were also reported, bringing the death toll to 1,963. Fourteen of these deaths occurred in November, one in October and one remains under investigation.

There were 279 people with Covid-19 being treated in hospitals with 41 of these patients in intensive care.

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, last night said: "The significant improvement in the profile of the disease is encouraging: the 14-day incidence of 152 cases per 100,000 is down by 51 per cent compared to the previous two weeks.

"To maintain this positive trajectory, we need to remain vigilant to the highly infectious nature of this virus, which can easily spread from person to person through close contact and by social mixing.

"Our individual everyday choices to stay at home and keep our contacts to a minimum are vital to driving down the spread of Covid-19."